Fishing reel



G. J. SHARPS Dec. 28, 1948.

FISHING REEL Filed April 2o; 1945 Patented Dec. 28, 1948 FISHING REELGeorge J. Sharps, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Pachner & Koller, ofIllinois Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation Application April 20, 1945,Serial No. 589,297 s claims. (c1. 242-84.@

This invention relates to improvements in shing reels.

In the past iishing reels have been constructed of die-cast aluminum,plastic or stamped metal casings with `complicated gears, pinions,ratchets, pawls incorporated in these expensive casings, etc., all ofwhich tended to make the cost thereof to the sherman relatively high. Itwas one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a fishingreel having all of the characteristics and qualities of the high-pricediishing reels incorporated into an improved, light-weight fishing reelwhich is relatively inexpensive because of the simplified manner ofconstruction as will hereinafter be pointed out.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved fishing reelhaving merely a skeleton frame and a minimum number of parts making upthe reel spool and click mechanism, such parts being f extremely simpledesign; to provide a fishing reel of this character having an improvedclick mechanism which produces a sub dued click when the reel spool isrotated, which is shorter in duration, and having more clicks perrevolution without increasing thev size of the f click gear; to providea click spring arranged to span the click gear and having a pair ofclick pawls thereon for coactive engagement with the click gear; toprovide a device of this character which is very light in weight, sturdyin construction and having relatively long Wearing qualities; to providea device of this character constructed in such a manner wherein themaximum amount of air is allowed to circulate freely through the iishingline wound around the spool of the reel; and to provide a reel so simplein construction that any one can take the same apart and make whateverrepairs are necessary and put it together again.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 butwith the vertical supporting rod and spool side frame member removedAFig. 4 is a perspective View of the click spring.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional View of a modied form of clickspring.

Referring in detail to my preferred embodiment, as shown in the drawing,my reel consists of a framework fabricated out of a pair of steel wiresor rods bent and shaped in a form of circle to form parallelly disposedside frames I of this character which is and 2, spaced apart and held injuxtaposition by a pair of C-shaped supporting wires or rods 3 and 4 anddepending supporting wires or rods 5 and 6. The side frame members I and2 are weldedor otherwise' secured to the spacing and rods at all pointsof contact with each other to form an integral, strong, sturdy structurewhich is very light in weight.

As will be apparent from Fig. l, this type of framework readily lendsitself to flexibility of design; that is, note that the dependingsupporting rods 5 and 6 form the letters P and K. These rods may be bentto form substantially all the letters in the alphabet and innumerabledesigns and configurations and still perform the oiiice of supportingthe structure as will be apparent. "The spool I'comprises' a pair ofoutwardly bowed disks to form side Walls 'l and 8, each having a seriesof perforations 9 therein whereby air may be `freely admitted betweenthe Walls I and 8 so as to materially assist in drying out the fishingline disposed therebetween and pre- Venil mildewing of the same. Thespool IU is also provided with a pair of integrally formed bosslikemembers or anges Il and I`2, each having a shouldered hub I3 and I4 toform seats for the side wall disks 'I and 8 respectively. The disks 1and 8 may be secured to the spool I 0 in any suitable manner whereby4the disks become an integral part of the spool.

In the drawing I have shown the end of the hub I4, bent outwardly as atI5 to abut against the disk 8 and thereby secure the disk 8 to theIiange I2. This may be accomplished by any of the well-known methods,such as by spinning, etc.

The hub I3 is provided with a pair of shoulders I3.I and f3.2 wherebythe disk 'l seats against shoulder I3.I and the serrated disk or clickgear I6 seats against the shoulder I3.2.

It is to be noted from Fig. 2 that the inner face ofthe click gear I6snugly abuts against the outer face of the spool side wall 1, wherebythey both become an integral part of the spool I5, when the end of thehub I3 is turned up as at I 'I, and hence both rotate simultaneouslywith the reel spool upon rotation of the spool.

The click gear I6 is a I3-toothed lock washer (sometimes referred to asa star washer or a serrated disk) case hardened to give it a long life.Each tooth I8 is bent at about a 30 angle to the plane oi the face ofthe Washer I6.

The spool I0 is mounted on the shaft I9 and is rotatably held thereon byretaining screw 20 projectingarms. 2-8 'and plate 25 is interposed' isWelded or otherwise secured to frame membersvandyat pintso contact so asto position thashaftaxiallywithin;

the framework.

The click spring 26 is of spring steel. and is1 v stamped out orotherwise shaped to the form shown in Fig. 4 and is provided withacentrally positioned perforation 21. Each oi the laterally 2.5 oithe;click: springffz is bowed the manner shown Fig; e.. i..y e.,upwardly'from the central portion thereof` to form a strlnsture.` which.acts asY an escapement. pawn.

As shown in Eig. 2 theclicksspring 26 is'monnted onthe end 24; of shaftiSi between 25. and thefsshoulder 212 andhencezis held stationary on theshaft I9.

3: shows,` with particulanity the: ,coactiva relation betweenI the.clickspring: 26; andclick gear ltg to impart. a drag tothe reel. 'Itistobe noted. from Fig..v d that the click gear isY provided with an.odd-number'of teeth; F82 and that the pawi. 2i?. will:be.'positionedlbetween twof adiacer'n'A teeth=l81whilepawlsZ'S willi-be riding ony atooth which ispositoned 180? from. the-pawlz 29. The pawls 26 and 29 areso formed and shapedfsee Fig; 4) that the teeth 'lr6 oi thek click gearyI6 wi-lizreadilyride across: the pawl's regardless of the directionorotatior-roii the gear l5.

'Upon-one,complete-revolutionof theclick gear L5; 'twentyin`v distinctsubdued clicks :are -created,1:as.willlbe apparent.

A cylindrical; handle grip; 36y usually rnacle` of -wood,oplasti'corsimilanmaterialgfis securedto thelldisk 8.-.by therdoubleeheadedl pinY31|? and the grip. 31'! rotatablexon-theipin 3.1i.. In order tocompensate forf'theangle ot disk= Siand'so that the 36. will: extendaiiright-anglestolthe reel as awhole, r have provided! an annular shimi132 having its inner face beveledfto the'samerangle as. that. of thedisk. he shimfor' Washer.' 32 is: alsozcarriedbyfthapin di.' butmay beintegrally seoureditotheaouterface ofdisk 8;by anyfsuitable moana such'.aszby welding,ietci My reel alsoincludesa reel seat 33'of`the1u-su-altype which I secure to the supporting members Zi. and .4; by; rwelding,or theilike, .and.:medially thereon as-.shown in. Figs. l: and 2r y Lhave `also.v ioundz'itl ad 'sable-*to further strengthen myxreelubysecuring spacers rings 34 between the. members. l and; 2i inV theposition shown in.. Eigs.v 1 and- 2:. .These maybe secured inf. any'suitable .manner such. as fby ,weldingf them to the: members I and2tact. It is tobenotedithat1theseiringsx34 also act as a. guide for:thea-fishing' line; when" strung therethrough. lAlthouglrl;hayeedisclosed these supports as rings,-4 it will. beapparent?l that: nods or bar-s: may: be substituted ,f

it is to be `further.;noted thahthe reelias a whole is reversible and.'nhence `may bei readily: usedi by either a left-handedforright.-handed:;usen.

It is also to be noted;thatwithslight: modificationv the, clichgealandolick-` spring could be reversed so that the click spring would be attheir points or con- I parting a drag on the produces, a; rhythmic; nedduality, va characteristic looked for by the threaded into:

mounted on the spool I6 and revolve therewith and the click gear wouldbe mounted between the plate 25 and shoulder 22, in the same manner asthe click spring is shown in Fig. 2.

It should now be apparent that my shing reel is exceptionally light inweight and very inexpensive 1to manufacture. `The subdued clickgenerated from rotation of the spool has met with high approval as theclicks are shorter in duration and there are a greater number perrevolution. Besides performing the function of imreel, the clickmechanism subdued, tonal click of reexperienced fisherman as an afishing reel.

It will also be apparent that the amount of dragimparted to the reel maybe increased or decreased by adjusting the angle of the pawls2,8;fandf29f vwithr respect tothe planeaset by the manufacturers.

in; lyf'redrreels; itx is4 important that provision befrnade'toidisconneetv the clicking mechanism so that4 the spoot willrotatefreely-without any drag; therefore, Fig. 5.1 have shown a modificationon myrinyentiorr wherein Lhave incorporated a click spring whichv maybemoved into or out of eoactiveengagement with thev click spring at the'of the operator. Except. for this click spring,

important feature in liberaal-structure is identical to that oi mypreterried' embodiment.

'Ehezfsprn'g is; preferably of spring. steel and consists of an.eongatediportion 40- having a perforation 4l therein of. agdiametersufcient to be tliez'endf24: of the shaft i9 iny the same: linanznelfasythe'spring' 215:01?. they preferred emhodnmnt.;` rEhe upper end. of theyspring is bent back uponitselt'in` Ui-shape, `and that portion indicated by the numeral 4:2 has its side bowed upwardly andaoutwardlyfto: act as a click pawl im the samefmanner as does the pawls 28 and 29off the preferred embodiment..

The portion; 4.9is also provided with a pair of depressions-'or seatsf43andr 4tv therein, they seat 413 however! beingdeepergthaxr` the seat 4e.

Thefplatei or Washer 4.5- is substantially identical to thezfplate: 25Iof the: preferred embodiment, but-is.: provided.- Withf a short-.slot46.. in which the button? -431 ridesi-f It. willf be,` noted; that whenthe buttoni 4x1- isl positioned ini. the i sea-ty 43. the portion 4.12?of; the. springy is oui-.vofeoactive engagement with; the: click gear"i6 butfwhen` the button is manually shifted.: downwardly whereby to bepositoned'; ini the: shallow' slot-44;; the entire upper endf ofvthefspring'f willfbe shifted inwardly; orto thezrightasfviewedinimiand-the lower end of portion 4-21will;comerizr operativecoactivaengage,- ment with thefclick gear-[61aswili'beapparent..

It, is: to be: understood: that-'some' off the details showmmay 'befaltenedi oromitte d without departingiromthefspiritgof myfinvention asdeiine'dby the following claimai I claim:

1.. In. eoshng \re.el^,.fatskeletonz frame,- a spool disposedwithinisaid frameg. a. stationary shaft-on whiohi said spool rotatablymounted thereon, sai'dishatbeing 'axially secured'. toi saidt frame, aclick gear integrally; secured" vto'n said spool, an elongated clickspring. semi-permanently secured tm saidsshafitiandzframe'., spanning.`saida clicli': gear andrhaving. bothfends thereonl -irr coactiva relant-ionship.` therewith..

2. Thedeviceeauuordingitofclaim 1:,.wherein'the cliolerfgearisi4pravded-witlnarr oddf'numben of teeth` 3. In a fishing reel, a skeletonframe, a spool disposed within said frame, a stationary shaft, saidspool being rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being axiallysecured to said frame, a click gear, an elongated click spring spanningsaid click gear and having both ends thereof in coactive reationshiptherewith.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the click gear is providedwith an odd number lof teeth. f

5- In a fishing reel, a casing comprising a pair annular rings held injuxtaposition by spaced supporting members, a spool having outwardlybowed perforated side walls, a shaft having-.an `annular shoulderthereon, said spool being rotatably mounted on said shaft, supportingmeans positioned across the'periphery of one of said rings, anchoragemeans secured to said supporting means, having a centrally locatedperforation therein, means for removably securing one end of said shaftto said anchorage means, a shoulder on said spool, a click gear arrangedon said spool and semi-permanently secured thereto against said shoulderto be rotatable with said spool, the teeth of said click gear being allangularly disposed in one direction to the plane of said gear face, aclick spring having a pair of integral click pawls on the distal endsthereof, said spring being anchored medially on said shaft between saidshaft shoulder and said anchorage means and securely held thereagainstto prevent rotation thereof, said click spring adapted to span saidclick gear, and said pawls being in coactive engagement with the teeththereof, and means to rotate said spool.

6. The device according to claim 5 whereinthe clck gear is provided withan odd number of teeth,

7. In a fishing reel, a casing comprising a pair juxtaposition by spacedin the area within the periphery of one of said rings, means secured tosaid spider having a centrally located perforation therein, means forremovably securing one end of said shaft to said first-mentioned means,a shoulder on said spool, a click gear, the teeth of said click` gearbeing all angularly disposed in one direction to the plane of said gearface, a click spring having a pair of integrally formed click pawls onthe dista?. ends thereof, said click spring adapted to span said clickgear and said pawls having coactive engagement therewith, and means torotate said spool.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the click gear is providedwith an odd number cf teeth.

GEORGE J. sHARPs.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS N umber

